I have a fairly specific question. I'm going to make a more detailed thread about my horse and his issues when I have more time but my search of the forums and internet isn't helping me out right now.

My horse has arthritis in his left-front pastern joint from being neglected before I got him. I adopted him when he was lame but I put him through rehab and special shoes and he really thrived.

I feel like when he was being worked regularly (nearly every day) he was reliably sound.

He then had an entire month off because of the rain where I couldn't even walk him around because the barn was a swampland and had no room (moving in one week to a place with much better drainage and plenty of room).

So to cut to the chase: When dealing with arthritis in the pastern, will having time off make it worse? Will getting back into a regular schedule *potentially* help him feel better?

Basically, I'm feeling incredibly discouraged seeing that he was noticeably off at the trot tonight. Nothing has changed since he was sound except time off cooped up in his stall. He's had recent x-rays and the vet attributes any lameness in that leg to his arthritis. He's on legend injections as well as Smartflex Repair supplement.

Again, I am planning to make a full thread about him but right now I'm mostly just interested in the phrase in bold above. Thanks!

I don't really know, but it sounds like you were doing well with him, and what I would believe over internet advise is how does he do when he is moved? That would show if it is the mud or the work, of course he has to get sound before you work him.

I am not a fan of Bute and I advise against it most of the time, but you have cause to think it is a general ache with arthritis, so give him a small amount and see how he does.

I have veterans currently a 28 yearold and a 30 yearold, I find that thier artheritis gets worse when they have to stand still. They are best when left in the field to walk as much as they feel they should. Moving seems to help them. Stabling them often means that I have to bute them the next morning. so at the moment I keep the field gate open and they can come and go from the stable as much as they want (and as my dad is the one doing the ponies atm It helps him enormously) and they are very very rarely found in the stables

With your lad I would highly reccomend a glucosamine supliment and turning him out.

Some people say keep the joint warm but to do that you have to keep them in (cant bandage in the field) and I find that keeping them moving has more benefits and keeps them sounder!

Thanks guys. I guess what I'm really wondering is if it's possible that he just needs a few days to slowly get back into working (just walking, but still closer to our normal schedule) to feel better or if he needs more rest instead.

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